Metal frame constructions



Feb. 28, 1956 J. M. GWYNNE METAL FRAME CONSTRUCTIONS Filed May 1a, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v m hm a W Wm I N ///A///// ///A//Nt f M #T a M 5 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR ATTORNEY;

Feb. 28, 1956 Filed May 18, 1953 Feb. 28, 1956 J. M. GWYNNE 2,736,403

METAL FRAME CONSTRUCTIONS Filed May l8,- 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BY W ZTT ORNEYJ United States Patent FRAMEGONSTRUCTIONS Jacob M. Gwynne, Smithtown, Pa.

Application May I8, 1953', Serial'No; 55,733

6 Claims. (Cl. 189-76} The present invention relates :to metal constructions, particularly framingof'all'liinds'includingwindow frames, door frames and thelile', and more particularly to a metal window sash= frame. Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of abandoned application Serial No. 224,507, filed May 4, 1951 A general object of the invention is the provision of extruded metal framing"membersv incorporating novel and advantageous means facilitating rapid assembly of such members, one toanother, by the use of standard and readily available threaded connectors;

Another object of the invention isthe provision of extruded metal framing members having one or more pairs of 'space'd parallel' flanges-projecting from a surface thereof and adapted to receivebetween the flanges of each pair, the shank of a threadedconnector; said'flanges extending longitudinally of' the member, whereby said member may be connected to another member abutting the end of the first member at right-angles, by means of one or more threaded connectors extendir igv through the second member and into threaded engagement between the flanges of each- -pair'formed on the first mem her, the threaded connectors being simply inserted through holes drilled in the second member and" screwed into engagement between the flanges: of the first member. This simple and inexpensive mode of connecting suchiextruded metal framingmembershasbeen found to have great merit and widespread application;

A further object of the invention Eis'the provision of a sash window comprising a rectangular frame made up of four detachably connected met'al members, which may be shipped in disassembled co'ndition' and readily and quickly assembled-and glazed on -the; 'job, and without the use of any special tools.

Another object is the provision of a sash of the character described, whercin the connect'ionbetween the several members making up the sash fi'a'me is such that they mayreadily be loosened, if necessary or desired, to permit removal of the moulding strip in order to enable replacement of a broken pane; or for any other purpose.

Other and furtherobjects, features and advantages will be apparent from the description which fdllows, read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front elevational view of a'sash constructed according to the invention', with a; portion of one lower corner broken away;

Figure 2 isa sideelevation of the-frame, em slightly enlarged scale;

Figure 3 'is a section on line 3'- -3' of Figure '1;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4'--'4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section on line 5 -5 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view, on ,an enlarged scale, of one cor'ncro'f 'the-framein disassembled condition;

Figure 7 is a planview of a'-.;sas'h frame according to the invention,providediwitli spacing clips, and mounted in a window frame; I

2,736,403 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 'ice Figure '8 is a partial vertical section on line 8'--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a detailed perspective-view of one of the spacing clips;

Figure 10 is aperspective view of an extruded framing member of general application; and

Figure 11 is a plan view of a joint between two tram ing members, saidfl'joint' making useof a feature of the present invention.

In order to facilitate anunderstanding of the invention, referenceis-made to the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying "drawings and detailed descriptive language is employed. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the invention is thereby intended and that various changes and alterations are contentplated .such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the: invention relates.

Referring to Figure 1 the sash comprises generally a top member 10, bottom member'll, side members 12 and 13, pane of glass 14' and mouldin g'st'rip' 15, which is preferably ofresilient, weather-resistant material such as neoprene or the like. The top member 10 is seen in end elevation in Figure 2 and in vertical section in Figure Sand comprises antextruded tubularmemb'erof rectangular section having, if desired, an overhang 16 formed along its upper,v outer edge, the overhang 16 having also a dependent flange 17. However, the overhanglli and depending flange 17.are matters of preferen'ce'and'are not essential to the invention.

The bottom member 11 comprises, likewise, an extruded shape of generally rectangular. 'crosssectio'n, the bottom webs18, however, being? discontinuous. That: is to say, the bottom surfaceiof. the member ll compri's'es opposite, inturned longitudinal flanges-'18 spaced apart by an elongated opening. or slot; and preferably the side walls 19 of thermember 11 are-provided with opposite inwardly extending flanges 20"spaced slightly above" the flanges 18 to provide, with the latter, grooves for the reception-of the edges-'ofa resilient'sealing strip 21' which may be inserted in: place by simpleflexure.

The side members 12 and'13 of the frame are also extrudedmetal-shapes,. generally U shape'd in section as best seen in Figure 3, disposed with their'open-sides outwardly-of the frame. lnternally'ofithe U-shaped section, each side member is provided with. spaced longitudinal flanges 22, formed during the extrusion of the members, which provide therebetween agrooverfor the reception of fastening members or connectors as hereinafter described, On the inner side' of;each::of the four members making; up the sashframe there is provided' a longitudi nally andiinwardly extending glass-engagingflange 23- and, spaced therefrom by substantially the full thickness ofthe frame member, acorresponding, though shorter flange 24; Each ofthe flanges 23; 24 is .turnedinwardly toward a median planetherebetweem theflange 23 so as to present aned'ge25 toeng'age the glass of the pane 14 and the flange 24 soto'present an edge-26 for engaging the resilient moulding strip '15;

The moulding strip 15 extends-entirely around the inner periphery oftthe" sash frame-and isformed with a baseportion 28 whichlseats-against the-inner sideso'f the four. frame members and anupstanding flange portion 29 of substantially equal width to the flange 23-. The

.glass pane 1'4 is adapted to be gripped withinthe base type as illustrated at 30, Figure 2, or may be threaded throughout their length as the connector indicated at 31, Figure 2. Such connectors are inserted through drilled holes in the top and bottom members, respectively, and into the groove between the flanges 22 formed internally of the side members 12 and 13, and are adapted to form their own threads in the said flanges 22 so as to be firmly but detachably-retained therein.

The moulding strip 15 is of such dimensions as to be under compression, toa certain degree, when in fully assembled relationship to the respective frame members. Therefore, for ease of installation, it is essential that the several members be connected in such a manner as to be partially or entirely releasable, and this is accomplished by the type of connection just described. If, for example, the sash is shipped in knocked-down condition and is assembled and glazed on the job, the four frame members are first tightly fastened together in the manner described, then the glass is put in place against the edges 25 of the flanges 23,- and the moulding strip 15 then inserted in place with the aid of any suitable tool. When this is done the moulding strip 15 is compressed to a sufficient extent to firmly grip the pane 14 and to be, itself, tightly retained between the flanges 23 and 24. This may be done without the use of any tools except a screwdriver.

If the pane 14 is broken and it is desired to replace the same, it is only necessary to pry out the moulding strip 15, which may be easily removed permitting replacement of the pane 14, after which the moulding strip '15 is re-inserted in place as before.

The heads of the connectors 30 and 31 are readily accessible, the head 32 of connector 30 being disposed outside of the memberlt). and-the head 33 of connector 31 being accessible through the'slot between the flanges 18 of bottom member 11, the resilient .sealing strip 21 first being removed.

As will be seen,,the top andbottom members extend for the full width of the frame, the side members 12 and 13 extending between opposedsurfaces at the ends of the top and bottom members. The inwardly projecting flanges 23 and 24 of each member are mitered at their ends, as required by reason of the bevelled or inclined shape of the flanges. By reason of the fact that each of the frame members is provided with square ends, mitered joints not being used, a considerable saving of metalis efi'ected andas seen, the several mem- From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a simple, economical and advantageous sash frame is provided by the present invention.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the application of the present invention to the connection of extruded metal framing members generally, that is, whenever two such framing members are to be connected at right angles at a squared end of one ofthe members. The type of constructionv under consideration is suitable for window frames, door frames, and other joints in the framing of a building.

Figure 10 depicts a channel member 40 formed with parallel opposite flanges 41 connected by a web 42, the flanges 41 being provided with a spaced series of grooves 43, if desired, for nailing or decorative purposes. The upper or inner surface of the web 42 is provided with two pairs of spaced parallel flanges 44 projecting therefrom, the flanges 44 extending longitudinally of the member 40, the flanges of each pairb eing curved toward each other near their respectivebases and distal edges so that the space between the flangesof each pair is partially enclosed and is parti-cylindrical in section.

Figure 11 illustrates a joint formed between the member 40 and an abutting member 45 which, purely for purposes of illustration, is shown as another channel section comprising parallel flanges 46 and a connecting web 47. In this instance, the flanges46-are provided with grooves 48 of somewhat different form from the grooves 43, also for nailing or decorative purposes. Before effecting the joint illustrated in Figure 11, the members 40 and 45 are sawed or otherwise cut to length and the web 47 of member 45.is provided with drilled apertures 49 in alignment with-the space between the flanges '44 of each pair provided on themember 40.: The members 40 and 45 bers are connected by the simplest and most economical means.

The same means, namely, the nail screws 30 or screws 31 (Figure 2) 'may be used to secure spacing clips 35 at either end of the upper surface of the top member 10, as seen in Figure 7, and spacing clips 26 within the ends of the bottom member 11 (Figure 8), which spacing clips are provided with elongated apertures 35, 36' so that theyrnay be adjusted laterally according to the width of the window frame or other opening in which the sash is to be mounted. Additional elongated apertures 35" are provided in order to insure registrywiththe apertures 37 and 38 provided in the top and bottom members respectively, for accommodation of the op'erating and balancing mechanism (not shown).

The provisionof spacing clips 35 and 36 likewise provides a convenient method of mounting and demounting the sash in the window frame, since when the corresponding clips'on either Side of the sash frame are adjusted to their innermost.positions,'the sash may be readily inserted or removed from the opening between the lands or flanges of the window frame, while when the spacing clips 35 and 36 are adjusted outwardly, the sash will be retained in the grooves between the lands of the window frame. The

spacing clip may be adjusted to such position as will provide the best sliding. engagement between the sash frame and window frame, eliminate rattles, etc.

are then abutted in the desired relation and threaded connecting members 50 are inserted through the apertures 49 and screwed into engagement between the flanges 44 of each pair formed on the member 40. ;The workability of the metal used for. forming extruded members such as the member 40 is such that the threaded connecting members 50 may readily be screwed into the specified relationship by the use of suitable tools, yet will maintain a firm engagement between the respective members. Preferably, the pairsof flanges 44 extend from end to end of the members 40, so that the latter may be cut to any desired length without destroying their capacity for ready connection by' the means described.

It will be apparent that a large variety of shapes, suited for all of the various types of framing employed in building construction, may be extruded with'one or more pairs of flanges 44 formed integrally therewith, and will thus be adapted for quick and facile, connectionto other members extending at right-angles thereto, such other members being either extruded metal mernbers or otherwise. In employing thetype-of joint described, it is immaterial whether the pairs of flanges 44 are provided on horizontal members or on vertical members.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In framing construction, a cornerjoint comprising an extruded metal member having spaced parallel connector-engaging flanges projectingfrom a surface thereof and adapted to receive therebetween the shank of a threaded connector, said flangesextending longitudinally of said member, a sec ond metal member abutting an end of said first member at right angles, and a threaded connector extending:.through said second member in substantial parallelism with .the longitudinal dimension of said flanges and into threaded engagement with and between said flanges ,of said first=member.

-2. In framing construction, a corner joint comprising an extruded metal member having spaced pairs .of spaced parallel connector-engaging flanges-projecting. from a surface thereof each, pair.- being adapted to receive therebetween the shank of a threaded connector, said flanges extending longitudinally of said member, a second metal member abutting an end of said first member at right angles, and a threaded connector extending through said second member in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal dimension of said flanges and into threaded engagement with and between said flanges of each said pair on said first member.

3. A metal window sash comprising a horizontal top member, a horizontal bottom member, parallel vertical side members extending between said top and bottom members, said side members being of U-section With their open sides disposed outwardly, each said side member having spaced longitudinal flanges projecting inwardly from the base of the U-section and adapted to receive therebetween the shank of a threaded connector, said top, bottom and side members having square ends, and means adjustably connecting said top and bottom members, respectively, to said side members, to form a rectangular frame, said last means comprising threaded connectors extending through said top and bottom members, respectively, in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal dimension of said flanges of said side members and into threaded engagement with and between said flanges.

4. A device according to claim 1, said threaded connectors comprising, each, a sharpened unthreaded outer shank portion and a threaded inner shank portion.

5. As an article of manufacture, an extruded metal framing member comprising flanges and a connecting web, said web having spaced parallel connector-engaging flanges projecting from a surface thereof at points lying between said first-mentioned flanges and in the same direction, and adapted to receive therebetween the shank of a threaded connector, all of said flanges extending longitudinally of said member, said connector-engaging flanges being inclined toward each other at their distal edges to partially enclose the space therebetween.

6. As an article of manufacture, an extruded metal framing member comprising flanges and a connecting web, said web having spaced parallel connector-engaging flanges projecting from a surface thereof at points lying between said first mentioned flanges and in the same direction, and adapted to receive therebetween the shank of a threaded connector, all of said flanges extending longitudinally of said member, the inner surfaces of said connector-engaging flanges being curved toward each other at their bases and at their distal edges, the space therebetween being approximately parti-cylindrical.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,723 Axe Aug. 2, 1927 2,004,727 Keller June 11, 1935 2,114,617 Verhagen Apr. 19, 1938 2,200,227 Olson May 7, 1940 

